We lose ourselves in books, we find ourselves there too.

-Anonymous

Paladin is a doozie! Lady Samantha, aka Sam, lost her mother in a demon attack. With a father who couldn't care less, Sam takes on the journey to become a Paladin (think Mulan, except she's fighting demons, not the Huns.) Along with the half demon Braeden, she is assigned as trainee to Paladin Tristan . Aka, the dream boat who helped her during the demon attack that killed her mother.

This book is a fine mixture of Mulan and The Night's Watch from Game of Thrones. It's got the whole cross dressing female ready to fight a war, backstabbing by allies,and a bunch of big headed men fighting demons (white walkers of this world.) It's so much fun!!

Girl of Midnight is an endearing little read by debut author Melissa Grey. Echo is an orphan who was taken in by an elderly Avicen, an ancient race of birdish-like people (just go with it.) She has always struggled to fit in with them save for her two best friends Ivy and Rowan. Things come to head when Echo finds herself on a (perhaps) wild goose chase to find the mysterious firebird. Who or what it is, or whether it even exists is known to no one. Only that it is the key to stopping war between the Avicen and Drakharin (Dragon people- think Seraphina-like.)

Caius is the Dragon Prince. He has been looking for the firebird for a very long time. He believes in it ardently. When things go awry at court, he and his loyal captain of the guard, Dorian, join Ivy and Echo to find the Firebird while also running from Caius' blood thirsty, war-mongering sister, Tanith. Tensions run high for the first half of the book as a human, avicen and two dragons must learn to trust those they believe have been enemies for all their lives.

In Uprooted, Naomi Novik introduces us to Agnieszka's (try saying that three times fast) world, where The Dragon (he's actually human), comes to take a girl every 10 years. No, it's not your normal, "oh he eats her or sacrifices her" type of ordeal. In fact, he releases the girls after 10 years and they go on to live happy lives. Everyone knows that Kasia, Agnieszka's best friend, will be taken. She is beautiful, smart, and talented. That's not what happens. It is Agnieszka (also called Nieshka) who is taken. Things are rough at first, but The Dragon and Nieshka slowly form a trusting bond and determine to fight the Wood which plagues and poisons the land and people.

This story was an honest-to-God delight to read. The world building is well thought out but doesn't take too long where readers of light high fantasy want to bang their heads against the walls waiting for the story to actually begin. Novik weaves the story of the world along with the adventure which makes it a delight to read.

There is also character growth in not just one, but whole characters! THREE!!!

There is a first time for everything: 0 fucking stars
DNFed at 45% and skimmed the rest.

STICK TO TWILIGHT PEOPLE. This book was a fucking mess. We've got our ever so angsty teen Ember who feels oh, so alone and different from everyone else. She gets sent away to a place for delinquents. There she meets the super hot ultra sexy muscle bulging threat to life itself, Eli Dragen. She can't figure out who or what he is. It's driving her nuts. Poor girl.

If that little strip didn't give you an idea of what the book is about, fear not, I have summarized it for you:

Ember: "I don't care, You're so sexy. I don't care if you're dangerous. I want to know what you are. You're so sexy. I want to run my hands down your abs. And potentially lick them."

Eli: "stop it, stop getting yourself into danger that is totally avoidable. Oh, I'm also going to be an asshole because it's not safe for you to be near me. But I'll still pine for you and lead you on a bit. Because I CAN'T HELP IT."

Ember: "You are really sexy. What are you... you bad boy, you?"

Eli: "stop it Ember."

Ember: "Have I mentioned you are really sexy? *swoon*

Ember: Oh shit, it really wasn't safe. I'm scared as fuck. I am a fucking mutant of nature and the paranormal. shit. Eli is still hot though, so..."

That's it. Don't read it. I did it for you. I'm saving you the pain. This is worse written than Twilight. I'm not kidding. Ember is dumber than Bella. She has no brain and doesn't know when to quit. Then gets all emotional when things don't go her way and does stupid shit. Seriously, don't read this.

This was a real slow burn book, but Sharon Cameron did pretty good. Sophia Bellamy's family is close to ruin. In order to save them, she agrees to marry the wealthy and witty Rene Hasard. Now, this is all well and good, except Sophia is the infamous Rook. She helps the innocent escape the dungeons of a corrupt and cruel ruler. Rene, however, is not to be kept in the dark. He is determined to find out what is happening. Unfortunately, things get tough as both Rene and Sophia are under the nose of Rene's cousin, LeBlanc, who is EVILLLLL. Also he's basically the guy throwing everyone in the dungeons, because why not?

3.5 stars
This novel is titillating, but not in the way that I'm usually in love with books. I only give it 3.5 stars in comparison to the next two books which are even better.

Blue Sargant is normal. Her family is made up of a bunch of psychic women. Blue's life is normal. Until she meets Gansey, Ronan (swoon), Adam, and Noah. These boys go to a prestigous prep school and have been looking for some dead welsh king dude for a longg time. Blue is pulled into their quest. Now, this would seem like a great story with an easy romance story, but...Ever since she was small, Blue has been told that if she kisses her true love, he will die. DUN DUN DUN.